Ursula Vernon

Ursula Vernon (born May 28, 1977) is an American freelance writer, artist and illustrator. She has won numerous awards for her work in various mediums, including Hugo Awards for her graphic novel Digger, fantasy novel Nettle & Bone, and fantasy novella Thornhedge, the Nebula Award for her short story "Jackalope Wives", and Mythopoeic Awards for adult and children's literature. Vernon's books for children include Hamster Princess and Dragonbreath. Under the name T. Kingfisher, she is also the author of books for older audiences. She writes short fiction under both names.

Ursula Vernon
Vernon in 2017
Born	Ursula Vernon (1977-05-28) May 28, 1977 (age 47) Japan[1]
Nationality	American
Area(s)	Writer, artist, webcomics creator
Pseudonym(s)	T. Kingfisher
Notable works	Digger, Dragonbreath series, Nettle & Bone
Awards	Ursa Major Award, Hugo Award, Nebula Award, Mythopoeic Award, WSFA Small Press Award

Career

Ursula Vernon grew up in Oregon and Arizona. She studied anthropology at Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where she first took art classes.^[2] She first became known for her webcomics and as a freelance artist, particularly for her works containing anthropomorphic animals. She then moved into writing and illustrating a number of children's books, her first being published in 2008, and then books for adults under the pseudonym T. Kingfisher.^[3][4] She decided to start using the pseudonym in order to avoid confusion amongst parents who were only familiar with her as a children's book author,^[5] and chose it because she loves kingfishers (and as an homage to Ursula K. LeGuin, who once joked that the initials "U.K." could stand for "Ulysses Kingfisher").^[6] Vernon has published short fiction under both names, and has won a number of awards for them including the Hugo Award and Nebula Award.

She regularly attends conventions to exhibit and sell her work. She has been a guest of honor at Midwest FurFest 2004 and 2009, and the Artist Guest of Honor at Further Confusion 2010. Vernon was the Author Guest of Honor for Mythcon 45^[7] and a Guest of Honor at Eurofurence 20, both in August 2014. In 2017, she was the Author Guest of Honor at Arisia '17.

Vernon podcasts with her husband, Kevin Sonney.^[8]

In June 2023, Vernon announced she had been diagnosed with breast cancer;^[9] however, by December of that year, she announced that her treatment had been successful and she was "cancer-free".^[10]

Works

Books for younger audiences

Vernon is the author and illustrator of the Dragonbreath and Hamster Princess children's book series, published by Dial Books:

Dragonbreath series

• Dragonbreath. (2009). 0-8037-3363-1
• Dragonbreath: Attack of the Ninja Frogs. (2010). 0-8037-3365-8
• Dragonbreath: Curse of the Were-Weiner. (2010). 0-8037-3469-7
• Dragonbreath: Lair of the Bat Monster. (2011). 0-8037-3525-1
• Dragonbreath: No Such Thing as Ghosts. (2011). 0-8037-3527-8
• Dragonbreath: Revenge of the Horned Bunnies. (2012). 0-8037-3677-0
• Dragonbreath: When Fairies Go Bad. (2012). 0-8037-3678-9
• Dragonbreath: Nightmare of the Iguana. (2013). 0-8037-3846-3
• Dragonbreath: The Case of the Toxic Mutants. (2013). 0-8037-3847-1
• Dragonbreath: Knight-napped!. (2015). 0-8037-3849-8
• Dragonbreath: The Frozen Menace. (2016). 0-8037-3986-9

Hamster Princess series

• Hamster Princess: Harriet the Invincible. (August 18, 2015). 0-8037-3983-4
• Hamster Princess: Of Mice and Magic. (March 15, 2016). 0-8037-3984-2
• Hamster Princess: Ratpunzel. (October 18, 2016). 0-8037-3985-0
• Hamster Princess: Giant Trouble. (May 9, 2017). 0-3991-8652-2
• Hamster Princess: Whiskerella. (January 23, 2018). 0-3991-8655-7
• Hamster Princess: Little Red Rodent Hood. (September 25, 2018). 0-3991-8658-1

Other children's books

• Nurk: The Strange Surprising Adventures Of A (Somewhat) Brave Shrew. (2008). Harcourt. ISBN 0-15-206375-7
• Castle Hangnail. (April 21, 2015) Dial Books. ISBN 978-0-803741-29-4)

Books for older audiences

Written as Ursula Vernon:

• It Made Sense at the Time: Selected Sketches. (November 18, 2004). Sofawolf Press. 978-0-971267-06-0
• Black Dogs Part 1: The House of Diamond. (March 1, 2007). Sofawolf Press. 978-0-976921-24-0
• Black Dogs Part 2: The Mountain of Iron. (January 1, 2011). Sofawolf Press. 978-1-936689-03-3

Temple of the White Rat books

The following books were written under the name T. Kingfisher and take place in what Vernon calls "the Temple of the White Rat world."^[11][12]

• Clockwork Boys. Clocktaur War #1. (November 21, 2017). Red Wombat Tea Company. ISBN 1614504067
• The Wonder Engine. Clocktaur War #2. (February 27, 2018). Red Wombat Tea Company ISBN 978-1614504177
• Swordheart. (November 27, 2018). Argyll Productions. ISBN 978-1614504634
• Paladin's Grace. The Saint of Steel #1. (February 11, 2020) Red Wombat Studio. ISBN 978-1614505211
• Paladin's Strength. The Saint of Steel #2. (February 28, 2021). Red Wombat Studio. ISBN 978-1614505303
• Paladin's Hope. The Saint of Steel #3. (October 9, 2021). Red Wombat Studio. ISBN 978-1614505518
• Paladin's Faith. The Saint of Steel #4. (December 5, 2023). Red Wombat Studio. ISBN 978-1614506096

The Sworn Soldier books

Under the pen name T. Kingfisher:

• What Moves The Dead. (July 12, 2022). Tor Nightfire. ISBN 978-1250830753
• What Feasts at Night. (February 13, 2024). Tor Nightfire. ISBN 978-1250830852

Other books for older audiences

Under the pen name T. Kingfisher:

• Nine Goblins. (October 27, 2013). Red Wombat Tea Company. ISBN 978-1310505768
• The Seventh Bride. (November 11, 2014). Red Wombat Tea Company. ISBN 978-1503949751
• Bryony & Roses. (May 18, 2015). Red Wombat Tea Company. ISBN 978-1614503996
• The Raven & The Reindeer. (February 7, 2016). Red Wombat Tea Company. ISBN 978-1614503897
• Summer in Orcus. (September 2016). Red Wombat Tea Company. ISBN 978-1936689606
• The Halcyon Fairy Book. (January 19, 2017). NESFA Press. ISBN 978-1610373265
• Minor Mage. (July 29, 2019). Argyll Productions. ISBN 978-1614505006
• The Twisted Ones. (October 1, 2019). Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-1534429574
• A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking. (July 21, 2020). Argyll Productions. ISBN 978-1614505242
• The Hollow Places. (October 6, 2020). Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-1534451124
• Nettle & Bone. (April 26, 2022). Tor Books. ISBN 978-1250244048
• Illuminations. (November 25, 2022). Argyll Productions. ISBN 978-1614505778
• A House with Good Bones. (March 28, 2023). Tor Nightfire. ISBN 978-1250829795
• Thornhedge. (August 15, 2023). Tor Books. ISBN 978-1250244093
• A Sorceress Comes to Call. (August 6, 2024). Tor Books ISBN 978-1250244079

Webcomics

Vernon is the author of the Eisner Award-nominated and Hugo Award-winning webcomic Digger.^[13] A fantasy story featuring an anthropomorphic wombat,^[2][14] it is also available in six paperback books published between 2005 and 2011: Vol. 1 (ISBN 0-9769212-2-7), Vol. 2 (ISBN 0-9769212-6-X), Vol. 3 (ISBN 0-9791496-3-0), Vol. 4 (ISBN 0-9819883-3-4), Vol. 5 (ISBN 0-9819883-9-3), and Vol. 6 (ISBN 1-9366890-6-5), and as Digger: The Complete Omnibus Edition (ISBN 1-936689-32-4), published in 2013. She is also the writer and illustrator of the webcomic Irrational Fears and the short stories "Little Creature" and "Little Creature and the Redcap".

Illustrations and art

Before becoming a published children's book author Vernon was primarily a freelance artist and illustrator, and she still regularly produces new works of art. Her work includes the creation of digital art as well as the use of more traditional mediums such as watercolour and acrylics, with much of her more recent work being mixed media. Most of her art work is available as prints. Vernon has also taken commercial commissions such as book covers and game art.

The game Black Sheep designed by Reiner Knizia and published by Fantasy Flight Games uses art by Vernon on its playing cards.^[15]

Her artwork titled The Biting Pear of Salamanca became an internet meme in the form of the "LOL WUT pear"^[16] and has been made into a resin figurine due to its popularity.^[17] She has also designed labels for a series of tea and soap products.^{[18][19][citation needed]}

Awards and nominations

Award	Category	Year	Work	Result	Ref.
British Fantasy Award	Horror Novel	2020	The Twisted Ones	Nominated	[20]
		2021	The Hollow Places	Nominated	[20]
Dragon Award	Horror Novel	2020	The Twisted Ones	Won	[21]
		2021	The Hollow Places	Won	[22]
	YA / Middle Grade Novel	2021	A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking	Won	[22]
Hugo Award	Graphic Story	2012	Digger	Won	[23]
	Novelette	2017	"The Tomato Thief"	Won	[24]
	Short Story	2018	"Sun, Moon, Dust"	Nominated	[25]
		2019	“The Rose MacGregor Drinking and Admiration Society”	Nominated	[20]
		2021	“Metal Like Blood in the Dark”	Won	[26]
	Series	2022	The World of the White Rat	Nominated	[20][27]
	Novel	2023	Nettle & Bone	Won	[28]
	Novella	2024	Thornhedge	Won	[29]
Locus Award	Fantasy Novel	2017	The Wonder Engine	Nominated	[20]
		2022	Paladin's Strength	Nominated	[30]
	Horror Novel	2020	The Twisted Ones	Nominated	[20]
		2021	The Hollow Places	Nominated	[20]
		2023	What Moves the Dead	Won	[31]
	Short Story	2021	"Fisher-Bird"	Nominated	[20]
	Young Adult Book	2021	A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking	Won	[32]
Lodestar Award	Young Adult Book	2018	Summer in Orcus	Nominated	[20]
		2020	Minor Mage	Nominated	[20]
		2021	A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking	Won	[26]
Mythopoeic Award	Adult Literature	2012	Digger	Won	[33]
	Children's Literature	2017	Castle Hangnail	Won	[34]
		2021	A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking	Won	[35]
Nebula Award	Novel	2023	Nettle and Bone	Nominated	[36]
	Andre Norton Award[lower-alpha 1]	2021	A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking	Won	[39]
	Short Story	2015	"Jackalope Wives"	Won	[40]
World Fantasy Award	Short Fiction	2015	"Jackalope Wives"	Nominated	[41]

Vernon has also received the following accolades:

• Her cover for Best in Show won the 2003 Ursa Major Award for Best Anthropomorphic Published Illustration.^[42]
• For her work on Digger, Vernon was nominated for the 2006 Eisner Awards in the category "Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition",^[43] and won the 2005 Web Cartoonists' Choice Award for "Outstanding Black and White Art". Digger has also been nominated in the "Outstanding Anthropomorphic Comic" category.^[44][45]
• "Jackalope Wives" (2014), "The Tomato Thief" (2016) and "Metal Like Blood in the Dark" (2020) won the WSFA Small Press Award.^[46][47][48]

See also

Notes

1. In 2019, SFWA announced that the Andre Norton Award is considered a Nebula category.^[37][38] It is awarded for middle grade or young adult science fiction or fantasy (or related genre), including graphic novels.

References

1. locusmag (April 12, 2021). "Ursula Vernon: Shiny New Idea". Locus Online. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
2. Vernon, Ursula; Patrick Keith (September 2004). "Interview with Ursula Vernon". www.epilogue.net. Retrieved March 6, 2011. Digger, ... is a fantasy about a wombat
3. "T. Kingfisher". Goodreads. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
4. Books for Adults, by Ursula Vernon, at RedWombatStudio.com; retrieved October 20, 2020
5. "Interview with Ursula Vernon". Apex Magazine. January 6, 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
6. "Q&A: T.Kingfisher". www.thenerddaily.com. October 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
7. "Mythcon 45 – August 2014 – Mythopoeic Society". Mythopoeic Society. Archived from the original on April 6, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
8. "Other media". Red Wombat Studio. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
9. "Pixel Scroll 6/17/23 Whoever Lives in Glass Pixels Should Not Throw Scrolls". June 18, 2023.
10. "Pixel Scroll 12/30/23 Always Cool To See A Reference To Big Pixel And The Scrolling Company". December 29, 2023.
11. Vernon, Ursula [@UrsulaV] (February 11, 2020). "You do not have to read the other books in the Temple of the White Rat world, this is a fine entry point! But if you like it, we have three other books that you may enjoy afterward in the same universe!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
12. Vernon, Ursula [@UrsulaV] (February 11, 2020). "Oh no obtuseness! No worries! Clockwork Boys & The Wonder Engine are a duology in the same universe. Swordheart stands alone but will eventually be a trilogy" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
13. Cruz, Larry (July 16, 2010). "The Webcomic Overlook #127: Digger". Retrieved February 17, 2011. best known for Digger
14. Boxer, Sarah (August 17, 2005). "CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK; Comics Escape a Paper Box, and Electronic Questions Pop Out". The New York Times. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
15. "Reiner Knizia's Black Sheep". Fantasy Flight Games. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
16. Ursula Vernon (February 27, 2006). "The Biting Pear of Salamanca". Retrieved March 30, 2009.
17. "Biting Pear (AKA LOL WUT PEAR)". www.patchtogether.com. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
18. Vernon, Ursula (June 5, 2008). "Tea! Tea! Tea!". Red Wombat Studio. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
19. Vernon, Ursula (July 12, 2007). "Red Wombat Studio". Red Wombat Studio. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
20. "T. Kingfisher Awards". Science Fiction Awards Database. Locus Science Fiction Foundation. Archived from the original on August 5, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
21. "2020 Recipients – The Dragon Award". Dragon Con. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
22. "2021 Recipients – The Dragon Award". Dragon Con. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
23. "2012 Nominees". The Hugo Awards. World Science Fiction Society. April 7, 2012. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
24. "2017 Hugo Awards". The Hugo Awards. World Science Fiction Society. December 31, 2016. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
25. "2018 Hugo Awards". The Hugo Awards. World Science Fiction Society. March 15, 2018. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
26. "Announcing the 2021 Hugo Award Winners". Tor.com. Macmillan. December 18, 2021.
27. "2022 Hugo Awards". The Hugo Awards. April 7, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
28. "2023 Hugo Award Winners". File 770. October 21, 2023. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
29. "2024 Hugo Award Winners". File 770. August 22, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
30. "2022 Locus Awards Top Ten Finalists". Locus Magazine. May 10, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
31. "2023 Locus Awards Winners". Locus Online. June 25, 2023. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
32. "2020 Locus Award for Young Adult Novel". Locus Magazine. June 26, 2021. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
33. "Mythopoeic Awards: 2013 Winners Announced". Mythopoeic Society. Archived from the original on October 6, 2013. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
34. "Mythopoeic Awards". Mythopoeic Society. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
35. "Mythopoeic Awards — 2021". The Mythopoeic Society. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
36. "SFWA Names the 58th Nebula Award Finalists". Nebula Awards. March 7, 2023.
37. "Nebula Rules". Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. October 2011. Archived from the original on July 1, 2011. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
38. Levine, David D. (April 10, 2019). "I am now officially a Nebula Award winner!". daviddlevine.com. Archived from the original on February 25, 2020. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
39. "2020 Andre Norton Award". Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
40. "2014 Nebula Award Winners Announced". Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. June 6, 2015. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
41. "World Fantasy Awards 2015". Science Fiction Awards Database. Locus Science Fiction Foundation. Archived from the original on November 2, 2015. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
42. "Award Winners 2003". Ursa Major Awards. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
43. "Master Nominee List 2006 Eisner Awards". San Diego Comic-Con International. Archived from the original on June 14, 2006. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
44. "2005 Results". Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
45. "2007 Results". Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards. Archived from the original on February 4, 2010. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
46. "WSFA Small Press Award Winner". Locus Magazine. October 12, 2015. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
47. "Ursula Vernon Awards". Science Fiction Awards Database. Locus Science Fiction Foundation. Archived from the original on July 2, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
48. "WSFA Small Press Award - The History". Washington Science Fiction Association. Retrieved October 2, 2021.

External links

Personal websites

• RedWombatStudio.com
• Bark Like a Fish, Damnit!, public Livejournal blog (last updated 2017)
• Digger webcomic

Socials

• Ursula Vernon on Twitter
• Ursula Vernon on Goodreads
• Ursula Vernon on DeviantArt

Catalogs

• Ursula Vernon at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
• Ursula Vernon at Library of Congress
• Ursula Vernon at Fantastic Fiction
• Free Speculative Fiction Online, accessed March 4, 2022,

Publishers

• Ursula Vernon at Penguin Random
• Ursula Vernon at Argyll
• Ursula Vernon on Uncanny Mag
• Ursula Vernon on Audible